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(No Model.)

H. C. BARKER.

CONTOUR MEASURING TOOL.

Patented Dec. 13,1881

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' UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

HENRY (J. BARKER, OF SEDALIA, MISSOURI.

CONTOUR-MEASURING TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,638, dated December13, 1881.

Application filed August 4, 1881. (No model.)

vention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in contour-measuring toolsemployed for obtaining the outline or periphery of any figure; and itconsists in the strips B, having shoulders b provided thereon,rigidstrips (3, beveled at O in the frame A, for retaining the stripsuniformly in position, thumb-screw E, in connection with the rigidstrips 0, having a scale of degrees, D, and measurement-scale H, and inthe peculiar structure and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter morefully specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 'is a side elevation, slightly in perspective,the dotted lines showing adjustment of the parts. Fig. 2 is an end view,showing the scale of degrees. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing howthe strips gay be adjusted to a specific contour or proe. A representsthe frameof my device, provided with apertures for reception of thescrews 0., which retain in position the adjustable side plate, a, andthrough plate a projects thumbscrew E, for compressing and holdingrigidly in position the contour-strips B. These strips are constructedof steel or other suitable metal, and are provided at their ends withshoulders 11, to prevent their accidental removal from the frame A. Theshoulders b, in connection with the frame, are a sufficient safeguardagainst their loss or removal, and prevent the annoyance and delay whichin practice are caused by the loss of the strips B, the latter beingmade of very thin metal, in order the more accurately to accomplish theintended purpose. The rigid strips (J are made much thicker than theintermediate or inner strips, B, for the purpose of holding the latterrigidly in position when compressed solidly together by the thumb-screwE. By this construction of these rigid strips I avoid the necessity ofemploying two thumb-screws near either end of the inner strips, B, toprevent their springing back when compressed at a point intermediatebetween the ends of the strips. These rigid strips are beveled at theirends 0 to a point and thinness conformable to the inner or intermediatestrips, B.

In employing the contour-measuring tool solely to obtain accuratemeasurement of angles, one of the strips 0 is elevated until the desiredangle is indicated upon the scale of degrees on said strip, and then, bydepressing the other strip 0 until its shoulder b touches the frame Aand arranging the intermediate strips, B, to conform to the same angle-line between the ends of these strips, the measurement isaccomplished.

In obtaining the contour of any object it is only necessary to placeeither end of the device against the same, and to press with the fingerthe strips B at the other end into its concavities or against itsconvexities, and then to tighten the strips in position by means of thethumb-screw E.

I am aware that strips of metal secured between plates by nuts andscrews, the plates binding the lateral edges of the strips, have beenemployed for obtaining contour-measurement; but the construction of thestrips, the frame for holding them, the method of securing themuniformly and rigidly in position with a single thumb-screw, taking thedegrees of measurement, and adjusting the parts to obtain a measurementas embodied in my device, are deemed a valuable improvement in the art.

I claim- 1. ha contour-measurin g tool, the combination of strips B,having shoulders b, rigid strips 0, thumb-screw E, and frame A,substantially as shown and described.

2. A contour-measuring tool having thin metallic strips B, adjustable ina rigid frame by means of a single thumb-screw, E, in connection withrigid strips 0 and scale of degrees D, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY C. BARKER.

Witnesses WM. HELMIoK, T. T. CLIFFORD.

